Interior Design Degrees

Twisting Tubes

The Interior Design program at the San José State University offers two degrees:

  • a BFA in Interior Design,
  • and a BA in Design Studies.

Note: The Interior Design Program admits every student as a BA Design Studies Major. Upon completion of DsIT 34, students are eligible to apply for admission to BFA Interior Design Program.

Admission to the BFA Interior Design program is by portfolio review only. Students who do not pass the review will remain in the BA-Design Studies Program.

BFA Interior Design (Professional Degree)

The program draws from a wide range of university and Bay Area community resources to prepare students for entry-level interior design practice and positions them for future professional growth in the fields of interior design and architecture.

The curriculum involves both theoretical and practical study of interior architecture with emphasis on critical thinking, communication skills, design process, merging technologies, human factors, aesthetic sensibilities, laws, codes and regulations, and professional ethics. Students are held to the professional standards set forth by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation Board.

In addition to the required portfolio reviews, students must complete a 1 unit professional internship as part of the degree requirements for the BFA of Interior Design.

BA Design Studies (Liberal Arts Degree)

Students who do not pass the review will remain in the BA Design Studies Program with a specialization in Industrial Design. The BA Design Studies provides students with broad exposure to design principles, history, and theory. Students may be admitted to the BS in Industrial Design on a space available basis after successfully completing required portfolio reviews.

The degree provides basic knowledge of 3D computer-aided design, materials and manufacturing, prototyping, and team-based theory. Students will have a basic preparation for jobs in computer-aided design support and model making, or be prepared to apply to a graduate program in Industrial Design or other areas.

Additionally, a minor from one of the following departments is recommended: Anthropology, Art and Art History, Business, Computer Science, English and Comparative Literature, Environmental Studies, General Engineering, Global Studies, Journalism and Mass Communications, Philosophy, Psychology, and Urban and Regional Planning.

Learning Outcomes

BFA Interior Design

Upon completion of the program, students will

  • have an understanding of concepts, principles, and theories of sustainability as they pertain to building methods, materials, systems, and occupants within the parameters of ecological, socio-economic, and cultural contexts;
  • express ideas clearly through visual media (ideation drawings and sketches), the production of presentation drawings across a range of appropriate media and to produce integrated contract documents including drawings, schedules, and specifications appropriate to project size and scope;
  • understand and apply laws, codes, standards, accessibility guidelines and industry-specific regulations that impact the design of interior spaces;
  • be informed by knowledge of human factors and theories of human behavior related to the built environment, including an understanding of the diverse social and behavioral norms that affect design decisions;
  • apply theories of human behavior in the built environment by selecting, interpreting, and applying appropriate anthropometric data when designing a space;
  • be able to work in a multi-disciplinary collaborative environment to identify and explore complex problems and generate creative solutions that optimize the human experience within the interior environment.

BA Design Studies

Upon completion of the program, students will

  • utilize knowledge gained in classroom to develop discipline-based skills in materials and techniques;
  • demonstrate professional depth of knowledge within their field of study;
  • engage in global views and weigh design decisions within the parameters of ecological, socio-economic, and cultural contexts;
  • demonstrate all aspects of the design process to identify complex problems and generate solutions that optimize human experiences;
  • engage in multi-disciplinary collaborative work team structures;
  • demonstrate discipline-based design ideas verbally, visually and digitally.

Current Forms

Visit the Department's Forms page. For more information on course requirements in this major, visit the SJSU catalog's pages on BFA Interior Design and BA Design Studies.